Water and soap shower spray



May 26, 1964 c. v. ARMOND 3,134,545

WATER AND SOAP SHOWER SPRAY Filed Aug. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l Charles M Armand 1N VENTOR.

Mm BY ym/a EM y 26, 1954 c. v. ARMOND 3,134,545

WATER AND SOAP SHOWER SPRAY Filed Aug. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY @wavfia -Mtg,

Char/es M Armand May 26, 1964 c. v. ARMOND 3,134,545

WATER AND SOAP SHOWER SPRAY Filed Aug. 15, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

W] W QM 98 94 w Mn 5 Char/es ll. Armand United States Patent 3,134,545 WATE AND SBA? SHGWER SPRAY Charles V. Armand, El Centro, Calif. (P0. Box A, Crestline, Calif.) Filed Aug. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 217,150 Claims. (Cl. 232-312) This invention relates to spray devices, and more particularly to a shower spray head adapted to selectively spray either water or a mixture of Water and soap or detergent.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a shower head which may be substituted for conventional shower heads and in use is adapted to selectively spray either pure water or a mixture of soap and water.

it is another object of the invention to provide a shower head which is provided with two nozzles which may be selectively used individually and each adapted to spray a liquid at different velocities.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shower head having dual spray nozzles and being provided with a novel arrangement of selector valves so as to spray pure water at different velocities or spray a n ture of water and soap.

it is still another object of the invention to provide a shower head having improved control valves for controlling fiow of liquids through the head.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a shower head for selectively spraying difierent types of fluids which is relatively simple in design, economical to manufacture, durable in use and requires a minimum of maintenance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forrnin a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the complete shower head;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through the center of the head shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 4--4 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 55 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one of the valves in FIGURE 2 in a different position;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the soap control valve shown in FIGURE 3 in a different position;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of selector valve;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially through the center of the selector valve illustrated in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 illustrating the valve member or plug in a rotated position.

As illustrated in the drawings, the shower head it? comprises an inlet pipe 12 having threads 14 at its inlet end adapted to couple the pipe 12 by conventional means to the outlet end of a conventional shower supply pipe connected to a source of water pressure such as a city main. To connect the inlet pipe 12 to the main supply pipe, it is only necessary to remove the conventional shower head therefrom and connect the pipe 12 to the supply pipe.

The inlet pipe 12 is connected to a conventional shower spray nozzle 16 by means of an angular pipe 18 and a two- 3,134,545 Patented May 26, 1964 way selector valve 20. The nozzle 16 is conventional and comprises a circular plate 22 having a plurality of substantially equally spaced outlet bores 24 extending therethrough. The plate 24 is connected to the forward end of the pipe 18 by a frusto-conical portion 26 which terminates in a sleeve 28 having internal threads mating with threads on the outer end of the pipe 18.

The valve 20 includes a cylindrical member 30 having a venturi passage 32 extending axially therethrough. Opposite ends of the member 39 are connected to adjacent ends of the pipes 12 and 18 by annular internally threaded sleeves 34.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the valve 29 has a pair of coaxial cylindrical lugs 36 and 38 projecting radially from a central portion. The lugs 36 and 38 are provided with a central bore 40 which extends therethrough and intersects the center of the venturi passage 32. A cylindrical valve member 42 extends through the bore 43 and is rotatable therein. One end of the member 42 is attached to a conventional operating handle 44 adapted to rotate the plug or valve member 42 within the bore 4% and the other end of the plug 42 is of reduced diameter and provided with threads which extend into a securing nut 46. Annular sealing gaskets 48 and 59 encircle opposite ends of the plug 42 and are compressed between the nut 46, handle 44 and the ends of the cylindrical lugs 36 and 33. The center of the plug 42 is provided with a diametrical bore 52 and a radial bore 54 perpendicular to and intersecting the bore 52. An L- shaped tube 56 has one end extending perpendicular to the axis of the member 30 and communicat ng with the bore 4%? while the other end of the tube 56 extends generally parallel to one end of pipe 18.

A spray nozzle 53 of a relatively small size is mounted directly above the nozzle 16 so that its outlet bores fill extend parallel to the bores 24. The spray nozzle 58 is of the same general design as the nozzle l6 and is connected to the forward end of tube 56 by an angular tube 62 which extends generally parallel to the pipe 18 and is connected thereto by a support rod 64.

The abutting ends of the tubes 56 and 62 are enclosed within a soap selector valve 66. The soap selector valve 66 includes a vertically extending cylinder 68 having a central bore '70 extending axially therethrough and terminating in a frusto-conical valve seat 72. The upper end of the bore 79 is closed by a conventional threaded plug 74 threaded into the bore 76 and the frusto-conical end '72 of the bore 7t communicates with a threaded recess in the lower end of cylinder 68 which receives the upper threaded end of a soap supply tube 76. A diametrical bore extends through the lower end of the frusto-conical valve seat 72 and slidably receives a reciprocable valve stem 73. The valve stem 78 is provided With a central radial bore 8% and enlarged heads on its opposite ends which act as stops. An inlet hole 82 is formed between the abutting ends of the tubes 62 and 56 within the bore 79.

The lower portion of the soap supply tube 76 extends within and adjacent the bottom of a cylindrical hollow soap supply reservoir 84 which is connected to the pipe 18 by a hollow tapered neck 86. The upper end of the neck 86 is of reduced diameter and closed by the pipe 18. A removable filler cap 88 is threaded Within a bore in the top of the reservoir 84 as shown in FIGURE 3.

In use and operation, the inlet pipe 12 would be connected to the outlet of a water supply pipe in a shower stall which in turn would be connected to a source of hot and cold water supply under pressure and controlled by conventional-hot and cold water selector valves. Initially, the bather using the shower head 10 would normally rotate the valve plug 42 to the position shown in FIG- URE 6 by means of the valve handle 44 and slide the V t a 3 r valve stem 78 to the position shown in FIGURE 7 after properly adjusting the temperature of the Water supplied to the inlet pipe 12. The water would'then obviously flow through pipe 12, valve 20, tubes 56 and 62 and issue as a spray through the bores 60 in the soap spray nozzle 58. Since the tubes 62 and 56 are relatively small in diameter, the velocity of the water flowing therethrough would be relatively great and thereby create a suction adjacent the hole 82 in accordance with Venturis principler The suction adjacent hole 82 causes the soap solution or detergent'liquid in reservoir 84 to pass upwardly in the tube 76, through the bore 80 and into the tube 62 whereupon it mixes thoroughly with the water flowing through the tube. Thus, it is apparent that a mixture of soap and. water issues from the nozzle 58. Since the inlet pipe 12 would normally be mounted on a universal joint, it is apparent that the nozzle 58 may be moved as desired for covering selected portions of the bathers body with a soapy solution. Due to the smallness of the nozzle 58, the soapy solution may be accurately directed to selected portions of a bathers body. This is particularly important since it is normally desirable to keep soap from spraying into the eyes of the bather. The amount of soap mixed with the water may be controlled by adjusting the effective opening of the bore 80.-

After the bather has covered himself with a soapy solution, he would normally move the selector valve 20 to a closed position. This permits the bather to scrub down with the shower 01f. To rinse himself ofi, the valve 20 would normally be moved to the position shown in FIG- URE 2 whereupon clear water would issue from the large nozzle 16 and no water would pass through nozzle 58. However, if it is desired to increase the velocity of the rinsing water or to rinse only selected portions of the bathers body, then the soap selector valve 66 would be moved to the closed position shown in FIGURE 3 and the selector valve 20 would be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 6 whereupon only clear water would issue at a relatively high velocity from the nozzle 58. This use of the nozzle 58 is particularly important when the water pressure is low at the source of supply.

Preferably, all parts of the shower head would be composed of a non-corrosive material such as stainless steel or nickel plated steel.

Referring now specifically to the modified selector valve 90 illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9 and l0,*it will be appreciated that the basic concept involved and the manner of operation of the selector valve 90 are similar to those gone into in detail supra in regard to the selector valve 20, the selector valve 90 being more compact and adaptable for quicker assembly. This selector valve 90 is provided with two vertically spaced internal passages 92 and 94 extending inwardly from the forward face thereof with the upper passage 92 being of smaller crosssectional area than the lower passage 94 and being in communication with a forwardly extending tube 96 which in turn is in communication with a soap dispensing apparatus such as that described supra in regard to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-7, a relatively small spray nozzle similar to the nozzle 58 also being provided. The bottompassage 94 has. an enlarged angular pipe 98 threaded in the forward end thereof for communication with a conventional shower spray nozzle. The rear end of each of the passages 92 and 94 is formed at substantially aright angle so as to communicate with a transversely extending centrally located bore 100, the conventional inlet pipe 102 communicating therewith through the rearwardly opening passage 104.

To elfect the desired selective dispensing of either the water or a mixture of Water and soap, a cylindrical valve member 106 is provided within the bore 100 with the center of the cylindrical valve member having a diametrical bore 108 and a radial bore 110 perpendicular to and intersecting-the diametrical bore 108. Control of the cylindrical valve member 106, as is the case with the cylindrical valve member 42, is controlled by an operating handle 112 secured to the outer end thereof.

The use and operation of the modification of FIG- URES 8-10 is the same as that involved in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l7 with the flow of water through the upper passage 92 and tube 96 being utilized so as to dispense a mixture of soap and water from a container or reservoir such as 84 by means of a soap selector valve such as 66. After the dispensing of an appropriate amount of soap solution, the valve member 106 can be turned to either a closed position so as to permit the bather to scrub down, or to a position wherein the water 'flows solely through the lower passage 94 and tube 98 so as to enable the bather to rinse himself.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilledtin the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A shower head comprising first and second spray nozzles, a selector valve, first conduit means connecting said first spray nozzle to the selector valve, second conduit means connecting said second spray nozzle to said selector valve, a pressurized water supply, means for connecting said selector valve to. the water supply for the selective directing of water through either one or the other of the conduit means and nozzle units, said first nozzle and first conduit means having a smaller flow passage therethrough than said second nozzle and second conduit means so as to provide for a relatively faster and more concentrated flow of Water therethrough and therefrom, a detergent reservoir and means for selectively introducing detergent from the reservoir into the first smaller conduit means for a mixing and dispensing with the water flowing therethrough, said means for selectively introducing the detergent consisting of a-second externally controlled selector valve communicating with the flow passage of the first conduit means, and a supply pipe extending from the second selector valve into the detergent reservoir, whereby, upon opening the second selector valve, the detergent is drawn through the supply a pipe by the suction created by the rapid flow of water through the first conduit means.

2. A shower head comprising first and second spray nozzles, a selector valve, first conduit means connecting said first spray nozzle to the selector valve, second conduit 7 means connecting said second spray nozzle to said selector valve, a pressurized water supply, means for connecting said selector ,valve to the Water supply for the selective directing of water through either one or the other of the conduit means and nozzle units, said first nozzle and first conduit means having a smaller flow passage therethrough than said second nozzle and second conduit means so as to provide for a relatively faster and more concentrated flow of water therethrough and therefrom, a detergent reservoir and means for selectively introducing detergent from the reservoir into the first smaller conduit means for a mixing and dispensing with the water flowing therethrough, said means for selectively introducing the detergent consisting of a second selector valve communicating with the flow passage of the first conduit means, and a supply pipe extending from the second selector valve into the detergent reservoir, whereby, upon opening the second selector valve, the detergent is drawn through the supply pipe by the suction created by the rapid flow of water through the first conduit means, said first mentioned selector valve being provided with two laterally spaced internal passages extending inwardly from the forward face of the valve, a first one of said passages being smaller than the other and in communication with the smaller first conduit means, the other of these passages being in communication with the second conduit means, the inner end of each of the laterally spaced passages being formed at substantially a right angle and in communication with a transversely extending centrally located bore, a rearwardly opening passage communicating with the bore so as to allow for the introduction of water thereto, and an externally controlled cylindrical valve member provided within the bore, said valve member having a diametrical bore therethrough and a radial bore perpendicular to and intersecting the diametrical bore, said valve member bores, upon a rotational adjustment of the valve member, providing communication between the rearwardly opening passage and either one or the other or both of the laterally spaced passages.

3. A shower head as defined in claim 2 wherein said second selector valve consists of an enlarged body surrounding said first conduit means, said body having a bore extending inwardly from one end of the body and into communication with the first conduit means, said first conduit means having a hole therein communicating the interior thereof with the bore, said supply pipe being engaged with the bore at said one end, and an externally controlled valve member extending transversely through said body and said bore between the first conduit means and the supply pipe.

4. A shower head comprising first and second spray nozzles, a selector valve, first conduit means connecting said first spray nozzle to the selector valve, second conduit means connecting said second spray nozzle to said selector valve, a pressurized water supply, means for connecting said selector valve to the water supply for the selective directing of water through either one or the other of the conduit means and nozzle units, said first nozzle and first conduit means having a smaller fiow passage therethrough than said second nozzle and second conduit means so as to provide for a relatively faster and more concentrated flow of water therethrough and therefrom, said selector valve being provided with two laterally spaced internal passages extending inwardly from the forward face of the valve, a first one of said passages being smaller than the other and in communication with the smaller first conduit means, the other of these passages being in communication with the second conduit means, the inner end of each of the laterally spaced passages being formed at substantially a right angle and in communication with a transversely extending centrally located bore, a rearwardly opening passage communicating with the bore so as to allow for the introduction of water thereto, and an externally controlled cylindrical valve member provided Within the bore, said valve member having a diametrical bore therethrough and a radial bore perpendicular to and intersecting the diametrical bore, said valve member bores, upon a rotational adjustment of the valve member, providing communication between the rearwardly opening passage and either one or the other or both of the laterally spaced passages.

5. A shower head comprising first and second spray nozzles, a selector valve, first conduit means connecting said first spray nozzle to the selector valve, second conduit means connecting said second spray nozzle to said selector valve, a pressurized Water supply, means for connecting said selector valve to the water supply for the selective directing of water through either one or the other of the conduit means and nozzle units, said first nozzle and first conduit means having a smaller flow passage therethrough than said second nozzle and second conduit means so as to provide for a relatively faster and more concentrated flow of water therethrough and therefrom, said selector valve being provided with two laterally spaced internal passages extending inwardly from the forward face of the valve, a first one of said passages being smaller than the other and in communication with the smaller first conduit means, the other of these passages being in communication with the second conduit means, a transversely extending centrally located bore, the inner ends of each of the laterally spaced passages being in communication with said bore, a rearwardly opening passage communicating with the bore so as to allow for the introduction of water thereto, and an externally controlled cylindrical valve member provided within the bore, said valve member having bores therein, said valve member bores, upon an adjustment of the valve member, providing communication between the rearwardly opening passage and either one or the other or both of the laterally spaced passages.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,824 Burns Dec. 24, 1918 2,388,445 Stewart Nov. 6, 1945 2,462,752 Kotches et a1. Feb. 22, 1949 2,475,702 Funke July 12, 1949 2,538,850 Simms Jan. 23, 1951 2,891,732 Orter et a1. June 23, 1959 3,049,303 Kocher Aug. 14, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,188 Italy May 7, 1952 

1. A SHOWER HEAD COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SPRAY NOZZLES, A SELECTOR VALVE, FIRST CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST SPRAY NOZZLE TO THE SELECTORVALVE, SECOND CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID SECOND SPRAY NOZZLE TO SAID SELECTOR VALVE, A PRESSURIZED WATER SUPPLY, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SELECTOR VALVE TO THE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE SELECTIVE DIRECTION OF WATER THROUGH EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE CONDUIT MEANS AND NOZZLE UNITS, SAID FIRST NOZZLE AND FIRST CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A SMALLER FLOW PASSAGE THERETHROUGH THAN SAID SECOND NOZZLE AND SECOND CONDUIT MEANS SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A RELATIVELY FASTER AND MORE CONCENTRATED FLOW OF WATER THERETHROUGH AND THEREFROM, A DETERGENT RESERVOIR AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY INTRODUCING DETERGENT FROM THE RESERVOIR INTO THE FIRST SMALLER CONDUIT MEANS FOR A MIXING AND DISPENSING WITH THE WATER FLOWING THERETHROUGH, SAID MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY INTRODUCING THE DETERGENT CONSISTING OF A SECOND 